BEFORE & AFTER: Colorful Patio Makeover Refresh!

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I remember what it was like when I first moved into our outdated, 1973 home back in 2010.

There was excitement, of course. And pride. We had just sold our smaller 2-bedroom condo and purchased a detached single family home–something that I was proud to have accomplished first in my family. It had a backyard for the kids to play in, too!

But another emotion kept swirling around in my gut for months afterwards, with sinking dread: fear.

What if something broke? Where would the money come from to fix up the place? What if this wasn’t the right house to buy? What if it’s not as perfect as I thought it would be for our family? What if we can’t really afford it?

I remember all those questions and doubts. I remember how I turned to thrift stores to furnish the house, documenting my amazing furniture finds at the thrift store and on the side of the road. This home is what fueled what became known at Thrift Diving, the blog you’re reading today.

And while it worked out in the end (here we are 15 years later), I never forgot the fear and doubt that settled into my stomach during those early months. It became the foundation of Thrift Diving: to inspire people to decorate, improve, and maintain their home themselves without fear, and without compromising their wallets.

So when my nephew bought this 1960’s house around 6 months ago, I knew what emotions he must have been feeling: pride, excitement, and yes….fear (even if he didn’t admit it out loud). 

It’s a solid house with “good bones” and plenty of space for him and my mom, who lives with him. I wouldn’t call him her “caretaker,” per se, but as my Mom’s health has deteriorated over the past couple of years, he’s definitely been the godsend who’s stepped up to take over the role as Head of the House. I’m so thankful for that! 

I knew when he bought this house that I would slowly begin to creep my way in, helping him to make over parts of it bit by bit.

It’s not that my house is “done” and now I have all this energy to go help other people DIY their home (like I helped my bestie transfer her outdated bathroom, and soon after, she and I tackled her messy bedroom for a stunning makeover).

But my house is now…..livable. There are no rooms with blaring wallpaper or outdated flooring. Yes, my garage is reminiscent of an episode of Storage Wars, but in time, I’ll tackle that, too. However, I see the potential in my family and friends’ spaces, even if they don’t. I’m itching to get my hands on their rooms!

I also had gotten an offer from Chita Living to send a 3-piece wicker patio bistro set (affiliate link). I didn’t need it for my house, but my nephew and Mom definitely needed it for their patio. What better way to incorporate the patio set into a mini patio refresh for them!

This was a housewarming gift that I was happy to surprise them with. 🙂 Here’s what the patio looked like BEFORE.

BEFORE

 

The previous homeowners had tried top paint, but clearly, whatever color they used didn’t match. It left the patio paneling looking blotching and scruffy.

I was so jealous of this space! I have always wanted a screened-in patio. This one was spacious, opening to a serene back yard. My nephew and Mom deserved to have a clean place to sit and enjoy the outdoors without flies and mosquitoes.

AFTER!

BEFORE!

The paneling was blotchy with mis-matched paint. There were random pieces of furniture sitting around, with no great seating for entertaining or relaxing. Not to mention the patio needed a good pressure washing!

AFTER!

Now the patio feels fresh, welcoming, and bright! The rug is to die for! It’s from my favorite company, Rifle Paper. I found the rug at Home Goods for $200, which isn’t bad for a 7’10 x 11’2 outdoor rug! You can find this same floral outdoor rug on their website, but it’s more expensive if you don’t find it at Home Goods, so definitely go check your local store!

I’d like to do something on their back wall. And I think the patio bricks could use a top coat that would make them shine and bring new life into them. But that was outside of my budget and time constraints. Even so, with just some paint, a new rug, chairs, and some plants, it feels like a new space for my nephew and Mom (and his kids) to use!

Watch This Makeover on My Channel!

Of course, you can watch the entire patio refresh here!

 

The “Wild” Factor

Meet Maiya…..Their 6-month-old adorable Border Collie puppy. She was adopted from the humane society, and had the most playful eyes. She’s a handful! Border Collies have a lot of energy, and they need a place to dispel it. Training her has been tough because Mom is the only one home with her during the day. With health issues plaguing Mom, her training hasn’t been consistent. It’s often easier to give Maiya play-time on the screened-in patio. She still has accidents, and don’t get me started on the chewing….Whew!

So the “wild” factor of this patio makeover was: Can we truly have a nice screened-in patio with a puppy who thinks every place is her bathroom and/or chew toy? HA!

My nephew and Mom decided that Maiya would have a nice shady spot in the backyard and not on the patio. Once she’s fully trained, this cutie pie gets to use the patio. Once they can be sure she won’t eat the new furniture and rug. 😉 

A Few Tips When Painting Grooved Paneling

Can I tell you how much I despise painting paneling?? LOL. This is the first time I have painted it, and those deep grooves of the paneling were….annoying. So here’s what worked for me and sped up the process?

• First, I cut in with a 1.5″ slanted paint brush along the trim.
• Next, I loaded my paint brush with paint, mushing it into the grooves, then spreading it out to fill the groove. I made sure that the paint was smoothed and not building up on the flat surface of the paneling, so I smoothed that out with the paint brush.
• Finally, I went over the paneling with a roller for a consistent finish.

I used Sherwin William Broccoflower, in an exterior finish (which is preferred for outdoor spaces, even if it won’t be exposed to rain; there is still a lot of moisture in the air.

Two coats are preferred, but if you get a good quality paint, one coat might be enough. And since this was an outdoor screened-in area, I had to make sure that I waited until the morning when the humidity and temp was lowest. Otherwise, this exterior paint will take forever to dry.

This is why I absolutely love the transformative power of paint. This was such an easy, inexpensive upgrade with just a gallon of paint! I didn’t have time to do all the trim in the exterior bright white; I’ll save that for another day. But just refreshing the paneling feels dramatic!

My nephew’s kids (Carson, age 3; Ellie, age 2) wanted to “help.” So of course, I put rags in their hands and got them wiping the walls down. 🙂 And I wanted to show them how to use a roller and paint brush. It reminded me of the days when my kids when they were small wanted to help with projects. Now–you couldn’t get them to lift a finger to paint anything, unless there is a dollar amount attached to it. HA! But at least these babies here are still curious and eager to help! Great opportunity to teach them how to DIY, right?

I’m so pleased with how it turned out! There are still some items that are needed, like:

• A new ceiling fan (someone on YouTube recommended a palm tree bladed fan. I agree!).
• Some potted plants on the floor, but this will only be possible once Maiya is trained; otherwise, she would eat them if she slips onto the patio when no one is looking!
• Possibly adding a glossy non-slip glaze to the patio for a “wet” look to pep it up.

My mom and nephew absolutely love their new patio! I love it, too. But what I loved most was the time I got to spend with my family in my hometown (1 hour away) while working on this project. It was a quick turn-around. Literally just one day for the painting, pressure washing, and putting together the patio set, along with hanging plants. Before I had kids, I used to spend the night all the time with my mom and nephew–years ago!

My kids are older now and with age comes more freedom for me! Spending the night with my mom and nephew felt nice, without a rush to drive home to tend to little kids wondering, “Where’s Mommy?” but to end the evening with a kiss, a hug, and a “goodnight.”

And while it’s sad to even think, how many more nights will I have to spend the night with my mom? Doing projects that make her feel happier, keeping her company, laughing with her, are special moments I am creating for everyone. This is how therapeutic DIY can be–making people, spaces, and hearts feel happier with paint and creativity. 🙂 

Have you done any projects lately that had a big impact with just paint and a few other items? Leave a comment below and share how the project transformed you!

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